Stackable base

ABSTRACT

The invention disclosed herein is a base for a plastic container or the like which can be stacked with at least one other base by means of a male-female connection between the bases.

United States Patent 1 1 3,586,277

[72] Inventor Arthur A. Voris, Jr. [56] References Cited 2 A l N g'gfif g UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 l PP- 1.958334 5 1934 Moore... 108/91 [221 Filed Nov. 26, 1968 2,372,872 4/1945 Wolper... .1 248/146 H5] meme! June 1971 3 230910 1 1966 01 108 150 73 Assignee Standard Oi Company 1 I sson Chicago, 111. FOREIGN PATENTS 102,105 11/1916 Great Britain 248/146 Primary Examiner-Edward C. Allen [5 /-lIIlHIl( \S/\1'ihl,l1' and 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs. Medhursl 52 us. c1 248/146 [51] Int. Cl 1 A47g 23/02 ABSTRACT: The invention disclosed herein is a base for a [50] Field of Search 248/ 1 46. plastic container or the like which can be stacked with at least 1456,1467,128,159;211/148;108/150,)1, 103, one other base by means of a male-female connection 150; 21 1/148 between the bases.

PATENTED JUN22 197: 34586; 277

sum 1 0F 2 I 'llllll INVENTOR.

Arthur A. Var/s, Jr.

Fig. 4

PATENTEU JUN221971 \VIIIIIIIIII I SHEET 2 OF 2 IN VEN TOR.

Arthur A. Var/s, Jr.

STACKABLE BASE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the manufacture and sale of plastic articles, shipping costs are often a big part of the consumer cost. Shipping costs are higher for a large-volume package than for a small-volume package. In shipping plastic products, considerable cost savings can be realized if the plastic product can be stacked or positioned so as to occupy a minimum amount of space. Many plastic articles such as tumblers, flower pots and food containers can only be shipped economically if they are stacked. Previously, plastic containers having a design similar to a champagne glass had to be shipped in bulky containers because stacking was impossible. Subsequently a two-part design has been used, having a separate base and a liquid containing upper portion joined after shipment. The upper por- I tion of such containers could easily be stacked; however, bases were still shipped without the benefit of stacking. Because stackability makes automatic handling possible it is advantageous from the standpoint of reducing manufacturing time as well as reducing shipping cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention of this patent is a base for a two-part plastic container which can be easily stacked. The invention includes the desirable features of using the means to connect the upper portion and base of the container as an essential part of a connection which allows the bases to be stacked. The invention, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a base having a tapered projection (shown in FIG. 3 as No. 7) on its underside. This projection extends downward from underneath the point of attachment of the stem portion of the base (shown in FIG. 3 as No. 2) almost to the surface upon which the base rests. The projection is designed to be the male part of a male-female connection between such a projection of one base and the stem portion of another, thus facilitating stacking of bases.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In its simplest form the base, shown in FIG. I, is two truncated hollow cones each having a larger and a smaller end. The larger and smaller ends of the first 10 being smaller than the corresponding larger and smaller ends of the second but the larger end of the first II always being as large or larger than the smaller end of the second 21 wherein the first truncated hollow cone 10 is concentrically positioned in the smaller end of the second truncated hollow cone so that about one-half of the first truncated hollow cone is contained within the second. The remainder of the first projects outside the second. The cones are concentrically attached. The altitude of the second is always greater than the altitude of the portion of the first contained therein. The cones are attached in such a manner that the first cone 10 of a base can telescope into the corresponding cone of a second base to complete a malefemale stacking connection. The smaller end 12 of the first truncated hollow cone may be plugged to form a flat surface.

In a second simplified form, the base as shown in FIG. 2 is comprised of three truncated hollow cones I0, 20 and each having a larger and a smaller end, the larger end of the first 11 being large enough so that the smaller end of the third 32 can fit therein (telescope inside). The larger end of the third 31 is about the same diameter as the smaller end of the first l2 and attached concentrically thereto. The two attached truncated hollow cones l0 and 30 are concentrically inserted into the smaller end ofa third truncated hollow cone 20 to the point of concentric attachment of the first and third, so that one of the first or third is contained within the second tnmcated hollow cone. The altitude of the second truncated hollow cone is always greater than the altitude of the truncated hollow cone contained therein. Bases similar to those of FIG. 2 can be stacked by placing them one on top of another in such a manner that the third truncated hollow cone of one base 30 completes a male-female connection with the first truncated hollow cone 10 of a second base, one telescoping inside the other to the extent permitted by the second truncated hollow cone 20 attached to the first truncated hollow cone doing the projecting. The smaller end of the third truncated hollow cone 30 is plugged to form a flat surface.

FIG. 3 shows the stackable base of this invention being used as the base of a plastic container. An upper portion of the container l fits into a stem portion of the base 2 and is firmly attached thereto by a frictional fit at the common interface 3. The stem portion is connected to the outer side of an inwardly extending flange 5 attached to the smaller periphery of what resembles a truncated hollow cone 4.. The truncated hollow cone, also having a flange 6 extending radially outwardly from its larger periphery to provide additional stability to the container and a tapered projection 7 having a larger and a smaller end and an inside and outside diameter, said projection extending from the point of attachment of its larger end on the inner side of the inwardly extending flange attached to the smaller periphery of said truncated hollow cone into the cones otherwise hollow interior. The smaller end of said projection is plugged to form a flat end which does not touch the flat surface contacted by the aforementioned radially outwardly extending flange. The outside diameter of the projection is smaller than the inside diameter of the aforementioned stern portion so that it can function as the male portion of a male-female connection, fitting into the stem portion, the female portion of a second base positioned under the first, whereby stacking of the bases is facilitated.

FIG. 4 shows two bases in the stacked position. The corresponding parts of the two bases are numbered the same except they are followed by the suffix a for the upper base and b for the lower. The clearance between the projection 7a and the stem portion of the lower base 2b range between three and three-hundred one-thousandths of an inch with ten onethousandths being preferable. The tapered projection of the upper base 7a projects into the stem portion of the lower base 2b only until the stem portion 2b contacts the inside surface of the radially inwardly extending flange. If the tapered projection 7a were longer with the stem portion 2b being shorter it would, of course, contact the outer surface of the inwardly extending radial flange 5b. In no case is the projection 7a or 7b so long that it extends below the periphery of the respective outwardly radially extending flange 6a or 6b.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The length of the projection determines the flexibility of the stacked bases; a shorter projection results in a looser connection and greaterflexibility. If the projection is tooshort the stack of bases will be too flexible to be easily handled. However, if the projection is too long it will touch the surface on which the base is setting and thus cause it to be unstable.

The clearance between the projection and the stem portion of a second stacked base also determines flexibility and therefore should be preferably about ten one-thousandths of an inch. Such a clearance adds the additional advantage that the bases can be more easily used in automatic handling equipment. The preferred material of construction of the base of this invention is acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyvinylchloride, crystalline polystyrene or rubber modified polystyrene.

Iclaim:

1. A base for a container or the like comprising:

1. a circumferential surface decreasing in diameter from a larger to a smaller periphery,

2. an inwardly extending radial flange attached to the smaller periphery of the circumferential surface,

3. a stem portion, in the shape of a generally truncated hollow cone having a larger end and a smaller end, the smaller end of the truncated hollow cone being attached to the inwardly extending radial flange so that the stem portion extendsaway from-the circumferential surface,

4. a tapered projection, in the shape of a generally truncated hollow cone circumferentially spaced from the circumferential surface, and having a larger and a smaller end, the larger end of said tapered projection being attached to the inwardly extending radial flange on the side of the 5 inwardly extending radial flange opposite from the point of attachment of the stem portion, with the greatest outside diameter of the tapered projection being less than the greatest inside diameter of the stem portion, said tapered projection being of such length that it does not project beyond the plane defined by the larger periphery of said circumferential surface, there being further provided, adjacent the point of attachment of the tapered projection and the inwardly extending radial flange, a portion of said flange present as a surface said surface being at least as wide as the thickness of the stem portion.

2. The base of claim 1 wherein the circumferential surface comprises a generally truncated hollow cone.

3. The base of claim 2 wherein the greatest outside diameter of the tapered projection is about three to about three-hundred one-thousandths of an inch less than the greatest inside diameter of the stem portion.

4. The base of claim 2 wherein the greatest outside diameter of the tapered projection is about ten one-thousandths of an inch less than the greatest inside diameter of the stem portion.

5, The base of claim 2 wherein the tapered projection is of sufficient length to telescopically associate with the stem portion ofa second similar base concentrically positioned axially below the first. 

1. A base for a container or the like comprising:
 1. a circumferential surface decreasing in diameter from a larger to a smaller periphery,
 2. an inwardly extending radial flange attached to the smaller periphery of the circumferential surface,
 3. a stem portion, in the shape of a generally truncated hollow cone having a larger end and a smaller end, the smaller end of the truncated hollow cone being attached to the inwardly extending radial flange so that the stem portion extends away from the circumferential surface,
 4. a tapered projection, in the shape of a generally truncated hollow cone circumferentially spaced from the circumferential surface, and having a larger and a smaller end, the larger end of said tapered projection being attached to the inwardly extending radial flange on the side of the inwardly extending radial flange opposite from the point of attachment of the stem portion, with the greatest outside diameter of the tapered projection being less than the greatest inside diameter of the stem portion, said tapered projection being of such length that it does not project beyond the plane defined by the larger periphery of said circumferential surface, there being further provided, adjacent the point of attachment of the tapered projection and the inwardly extending radial flange, a portion of said flange present as a surface said surface being at least as wide as the thickness of the stem portion.
 2. an inwardly extending radial flange attached to the smaller periphery of the circumferential surface,
 2. The base of claim 1 wherein the circumferential surface comprises a generally truncated hollow cone.
 3. The base of claim 2 wherein the greatest outside diameter of the tapered projection is about three to about three-hundred one-thousandths of an inch less than the greatest inside diameter of the stem portion.
 3. a stem portion, in the shape of a generally truncated hollow cone having a larger end and a smaller end, the smaller end of the truncated hollow cone being attached to the inwardly extending radial flange so that the stem portion extends away from the circumferential surface,
 4. a tapered projection, in the shape of a generally truncated hollow cone circumferentially spaced from the circumferential surface, and having a larger and a smaller end, the larger end of said tapered projection being attached to the inwardly extending radial flange on the side of the inwardly extending radial flange opposite from the point of attachment of the stem portion, with the greatest outside diameter of the tapered projection being less than the greatest inside diameter of the stem portion, said tapered projection being of such length that it does not project beyond the plane defined by the larger periphery of said circumferential surface, there being further provided, adjacent the point of attachment of the tapered projection and the inwardly extending radial flange, a portion of said flange present as a surface said surface being at least as wide as the thickness of the stem portion.
 4. The base of claim 2 wherein the greatest outside diameter of the tapered projection is about ten one-thousandths of an inch less than the greatest inside diameter of the stem portion.
 5. The base of claim 2 wherein the tapered projection is of sufficient length to telescopically associate with the stem portion of a second similar base concentrically positioned axially below the first. 